“They’ll be needed,” nodded Colonel Crockett. “Everything looks promising for a long war; and Texas, so I’ve heard, is just the place where one can be carried out to any length by men who fight and run as the Mexicans do.”
The talk between the men continued for some time; it was mainly about Texas and Crockett’s political fortunes, and the boys listened with much interest. But finally Burr and his friends got up, and moved away to a place where some other people had gathered.
For some little time after this the backwoodsman sat nursing his rifle and gazing toward the wooded Arkansas shore. Finally he spoke.
“And so,” said he, “you have some kind of a difficulty with Colonel Huntley?”
“Yes, it would seem so,” replied Walter Jordan.
“I’ve known him for a good many years, off and on,” spoke Crockett. “Once he owned a big plantation in Carolina and worked a hundred slaves. Then he was interested in a steamboat company. But I heard some time ago that he’d lost all his money and was, so to speak, living by his wits.”
“That accounts for his being in the confidence of Sam Davidge, then,” said Ned Chandler, to his friend. “I guess Sam has hired Huntley, and Huntley hired Barker.”
Walter laughed.
“Suppose,” said he, “that Barker would now take it into his head to hire some one. Why, the thing might go on that way and there would be no end to our enemies.”
Ned joined in the laugh at this idea; but at the same time he shook his head.